174 On Salt as a Manure. 
ties the most successful, I had still doubts about its ge- 
neral utility, as a manure of any certain efficacy. I read 
to him, from page 171 of our memoirs, the opinion I 
there give in these words. “It is not well ascertained 
that common salt (muriat of soda) isa manure. If it is, 
it acts by its septic quality, when applied in small quan- 
ties.” His exclamation was—‘ Then it is a manure, 
and acts as thou hast supposed,” I know it by nume- 
rous facts, and profitable experiments.”’ He is nota 
farmer by profession ; and his pamphlet shews him not 
to be acquainted with principles of the art. His theories 
are heteredox and whimsical. Among other impro- 
prieties, he proposes the mixture of salt with gypsum;— 
decidedly ruinous to both. He hasa small farm; but isa 
mechanic; —I think in wire work. His facts are worthy 
of attention. He ploughs in the fall; or, if practicable, 
in the winter, and early in the spring. There he falls in 
with my experience; and probably this may be the se- 
cret, ina great. measure, of part of his success. © The 
strewing the salt must be before vegetation begins in 
the spring; and never to exceed one bushel per acre, 
either in substance or diluted with water, and mixed 
with two bushels of ‘ virgin mould where fallen trees 
had Jain and rotted, or from marshy land, or slackened 
ashes.” The compound must be dry and friable. His 
average per acre seems to be three pecks of salt, mixed 
in the compound, so as to facilitate its being the better 
and more equally strewed. He applies it to all vegetable 
products ; whether on the farm, or in the garden. And 
he gives instances of happy effects in the orchard ; and 
on all fruit trees. He deepens his spots where Indian 
corn is planted; and puts therein a table spoonful of 
